document_title: Big Brother (U.S. TV series)

question_text: where is the big brother house in usa

question_tokens: where is the big brother house in usa

text: Big Brother (U.S. TV series)

text: History[edit]

text: Series[edit]

text: The series was bought by CBS in early 2000 for an estimated $20 million.[5] The United States version of the series officially premiered on July 5, 2000 when the original ten housemates entered the house.[6] Since its inception, the show has been hosted by television personality Julie Chen. It is produced by Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan for Fly on the Wall Entertainment and Endemol Shine North America (formerly Endemol USA).[7] The success of the series has spawned several spin-offs. The series airs once a year, during the summer, with the exception of the ninth season which aired in spring of 2008 and the Over the Top spinoff series broadcasting in fall 2016. Currently, 19 seasons of the show have aired, along with one digital season.[8] The show has aired a total of 545 episodes since it premiered, with the September 5, 2013 airing marking the 500th episode.[9] To date, there have been a total of 253 HouseGuests compete in the series. Upon entering the house, the HouseGuests who leave the house without permission are not allowed to return. Should a HouseGuest break the rules set in the house, they can be expelled from the house. To date, there have been a total of four HouseGuests expelled from the house because of acts of violence and/or rule-breaking. There have only been three HouseGuests who have voluntarily left the game for reasons relating to personal matters.

text: Companion shows[edit]

text: Since its premiere, there have been numerous companion programs to the show. In 2004, the web series House Calls: The Big Brother Talk Show (2004–08) began airing.[10] The series, which lasted for thirty minutes and aired on weeknights, allowed fans to call in and discuss the events of the game.[11] This made House Calls the first live Internet talk show produced exclusively for a television network.[12] The series was initially hosted by Gretchen Massey and Big Brother 3 (2002) HouseGuest Marcellas Reynolds during its first two seasons.[13] Beginning with the show's third season, a new co-host was featured on the series each day, with some returning more than once.[14] During the show's fifth and sixth seasons, each co-host was given a designated day of the week to host alongside Gretchen.[15] Following the show's sixth season, it was confirmed that it would not be renewed.[16]

text: Big Brother: After Dark, a second companion series, was debuted in 2007 and aired on Showtime Too nightly from 12 a.m. to 3 a.m. Eastern Time.[17] The series continued this schedule until 2013, when it was moved to TVGN (now Pop).[18][19]

text: Former HouseGuest Jeff Schroeder began hosting the Big Brother: Live Chat online discussion show in 2012, where he interviewed the HouseGuests both before they enter the house and following their evictions. He also performed post-finale backyard interviews with the cast.[20] On August 10, 2017, Schroeder announced that he was moving to Colorado and would no longer be able to do the interviews.[21]

text: Spin-offs[edit]

text: There have been two spin-off editions of Big Brother. In October 2016, CBS premiered a spin-off web series, Big Brother: Over the Top, as an original series for CBS All Access. Unlike the flagship, television version, it was broadcast exclusively online with a shorter, 10-week season.[22][23]

text: The second spin-off, Celebrity Big Brother, is set to air in the winter of 2018 on CBS.

text: Though not an actual spin-off, the Canadian edition of the series is the first and currently only series to adopt the American format of Big Brother.[24]

text: Format[edit]

text: Big Brother is a game show in which a group of contestants, referred to as HouseGuests, live in a custom-built "house" (actually a set built on a CBS stage in Los Angeles, Stage 18 in recent editions), constantly under video surveillance.[25] While in the house, the contestants are completely isolated from the outside world, meaning no phone, television, internet, magazines, newspaper, or contact with those not in the house.[26] This rule could be broken, however, in the event of a medical injury, a family emergency or death.[27] The format of the series is mainly seen as a social experiment, and requires HouseGuests to interact with others who may have differing ideals, beliefs, and prejudices.[28][29] While a competition, the series allows viewers to witness the relationships formed in the house and the behavior of the HouseGuests.[30] Though locked in the house, the HouseGuests are free to quit the game, though will not be allowed entry back into the house.[31] Should a HouseGuest break the rules of the game, they could be expelled from the house, and unable to return.[32][33] The contestants compete for a grand prize of $500,000.[34][35]

text: Season 1[edit]

text: The premiere season used the original format of the series, which originated in the Netherlands. HouseGuests were required to nominate two of their fellow contestants for potential banishment, and the two with the most votes would be nominated.[36] Should multiple HouseGuests receive the most nominations, then more than two HouseGuests were marked for banishment.[37] This process was mandatory for all HouseGuests, and failure to comply could result in expulsion from the house.[38] The HouseGuests in these seasons were forbidden from discussing nominations, and doing so could result in punishment.[39][40] The public, through a vote conducted by phone, would vote to banish one of the nominated HouseGuests from the house, and the HouseGuest with the most votes from the viewers would be banished from the house.[41] When only three HouseGuests remained, the viewers would vote for which of them should win the series, and the HouseGuest with the most votes would become the winner.[37] The format, during that season, was plagued with a negative reception from both critics and viewers.[42]

text: Season 2–present[edit]

text: Having spent millions on the series, CBS issued a second season of the series and announced that various changes would occur with the format.[43] The current format of the series is focused more on competition and strategy than the original series. At the start of each week in the house, the HouseGuests compete for the title of Head of Household.[44] The Head of Household for each week is given luxuries such as their own personal bedroom and free laundry service, but is responsible for nominating two HouseGuests for eviction. The Head of Household would not be able to compete in the following week's Head of Household competition, meaning that a HouseGuest could not hold the title for two weeks in a row, except for the final week or other stated circumstances.[45][46] [47] All HouseGuests excluding the Head of Household and nominees later vote to determine which of the two nominees should be evicted, and the nominated HouseGuest who received the most votes is evicted during a live episode. If there is a tie in the voting, the reigning Head of Household is required to make the tie-breaker decision.[48] Unlike other versions of Big Brother, the HouseGuests may discuss the nomination and eviction process openly and freely. The HouseGuests also competed in Have-Not competitions, in which the losers were required to solely eat slop for the rest of the week, as well as sleep in a special bedroom.[49] Upon reaching a point in the game, the evicted HouseGuests go on to become members of the Jury; the Jury is responsible for choosing who wins the series. The members of the Jury are not shown any Diary Room interviews or any footage that may include strategy or details regarding nominations.[50] Once only two HouseGuests remain, the members of the Jury cast their votes for who should win the series.[51]

text: To keep the series intriguing, each season typically features a new twist to change the format of the game. This began with Big Brother 3 (2002) and the "Expect the Unexpected" twist.[52] Other seasons feature smaller twists than have a smaller impact on the game, usually affecting that sole week. The most notable example of this is Pandora's Box, a twist that originated in Big Brother 11 (2009).[53] The twist sees the current Head of Household for that week being tempted by the box, and can choose to either open the box or leave it. Should a HouseGuest choose to open Pandora's Box, both good and bad consequences could be unleashed into the house; these can affect not only the Head of Household but the other housemates.[54][55]Similar formats are applied in later seasons, for example, the Den of Temptation introduced in season 19. Secret powers have also appeared in the past. Mike Malin was the first HouseGuest to receive a secret power, earning the Coup d'État during Big Brother: All-Stars (2006).[56] The Coup d'État allowed the holder to remove one or both nominees from the block on eviction night, as well as choose who is nominated in their place.[57] Malin chose not to use the power, and it subsequently returned during Big Brother 11 (2009) when Jeff Schroeder was given the power by the viewers.[58] Matt Hoffman was given a Diamond Power of Veto during Big Brother 12 (2010), which allowed him to remove one HouseGuest from the block and choose the replacement nominee.[59] During Big Brother 14 (2012), HouseGuest Ian Terry won a second Power of Veto, which could be used the same as the normal Power of Veto.[60]

text: There have been many seasons in which there has been a twist that allows an evicted HouseGuest to return to the game as if they never left. This happened by either a vote or by a competition. From season 18 onward this was referred to as the Battle Back Competition. After being evicted the HouseGuests remained sequestered either separately from each other or (if occurring post-jury) together in the jury house. Those who elected to leave sequester or who leave the game voluntarily were ineligible to return. In Big Brother 3, the first four evictees competed in a competition where they were asked questions about how much they would give up to re-enter the house. The two who gave up the most faced a vote of the house as to who would return. In Big Brother 6, three of the first four evictees were voted on by an America's Vote where the winner returned to the house. In Big Brother 9 and Big Brother 13, the first few evictees were also voted on by the public. Then a house vote was held on whether to bring back the most recent evictee or the person America chose known only to them as the "mystery HouseGuest". During Big Brother 18 and Big Brother 19 there was a competition to determine who would return to the house

text: Jessie Godderz has made the most Big Brother appearances in the show's history, appearing in seasons 10 and 11 as a HouseGuest and in seasons 12–14 and 17–19 in a special guest appearance.

text: Victor Arroyo became the first HouseGuest to reenter the house for a third time in the same season while Paul Abrahamian became the first HouseGuest to make it to the final two twice but still not win.

text: Broadcast[edit]

text: Since its launch in the United States, Big Brother has aired on CBS.[61] The show is simulcast in Canada on Global.[62] The fourth and ninth seasons have both aired in the United Kingdom, the latter airing in the Spring season.[63] The first season featured a total of six episodes per week, though all future installments would air three nights per week.[64] Of these three episodes, the weekly eviction episode is the only one that is live; this is the only episode to feature host Julie Chen. This show generally airs on Thursdays.[65] To date, there have been a total of 558 episodes of the series to air.[66] With the exception of the ninth season, the series typically airs once a year during the Summer season.[67][68] The first fifteen seasons aired in standard definition, with the sixteenth season being the first to be produced in HD.[69][70] Before the series made the transfer, it was the last remaining regularly scheduled Primetime series to remain in standard definition.[71][72] CBS released the entire third season as a nine-disc set on Region 1 DVD.[73] This made it the first season to receive an official release, and has since become a rare item to find.[74] The fourth season saw the release of a two-disc highlights DVD, featuring previously unseen footage deemed too racy for the main broadcast.[75] To date, these are the only seasons to see a physical release. Beginning with the seventh season, all future seasons are available for purchase on digital retail sites.[76] With the fifteenth season, TVGN (now Pop) began airing re-runs of the series at later dates, making it the first season to be aired following its premiere; this continued with the sixteenth season.[77]

text: Subscribers to CBS All Access are able to stream the complete run of Big Brother, including the differently-formatted first season, and an episode of Big Brother 2 that did not air in most markets due to ongoing coverage of the September 11 attacks.

text: One of the main aspects of the series is the live feeds, in which viewers can view inside the house at any time.[78] The live feeds have been a part of the series since its inception, initially being offered as a free service during the first season.[79] From the second season onward, a subscription to the live feeds has been required, with the price ranging each year.[80] The first season's feeds were available on the show's official site, hosted by AOL.[81] From the second season to the fourteenth season, the feeds were available through RealNetworks either as a subscription or as a free addition for Gold members.[82] With the fifteenth season onward, the live feeds have aired on the official CBS website, again requiring a subscription from users.[83] Though advertised as being available at any time, the feeds are shut off during the weekly nomination ceremony, Power of Veto ceremony, and the competitions and evictions for that week; this is to provide suspense for the series.[84] Slanderous statements and singing of copyrighted music are also blocked for legal reasons.[85][86][87]

text: CBS is set to be premiering Celebrity Big Brother in the winter of 2018. It will be the first spin-off to air on the broadcast network, and the second season overall to air in the winter television season. The celebrity edition is expected to air in a concentrated run with fewer episodes. However, this edition will air multiple episodes each week and continue to have live feeds and the After Dark companion show as with the main edition.[3]

text: Competitions[edit]

text: Head of Household (HOH)[edit]

text: The Head of Household competition is held at the beginning of each week, and is most often performed on the live eviction episode.[88] Most often, the first Head of Household competition will require HouseGuests to participate either in pairs or in teams.[89] While the fourth, fifth, and eighth seasons had the HouseGuests competing in pairs,[90] the sixth, seventh, eleventh, twelfth, fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth editions all saw HouseGuests competing as part of a group.[91][92] The live Head of Household competitions are typically question based, and will see HouseGuests eliminated each round.[93] Competitions such as "Majority Rules" have been used numerous times, with the game being played in the fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth, tenth, and twelfth seasons;[94][95] a variation of the competition was used in the seventh season.[96] Some competitions will attempt to cause drama in the house, such as the "En Garde" Head of Household competition in which the winner of each round selected the next two to face off against one another.[97] This competition was later used in the tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth seasons.[98][99] Various competitions throughout the season will be endurance, requiring HouseGuests to be the last one remaining in the competition.[100] Endurance competitions are often held after game changing announcements, such as when a previously evicted HouseGuest returns.[101] Various endurance competitions may have punished or reward contestants who either fall off first or last.[102] Skill based competitions also appear frequently throughout the season, some of which may last for numerous hours.[103] Skill competitions, such as the thirteenth season's "Big Brother Open", are finished during the live eviction broadcast.[104] The final Head of Household competition of each season features three rounds; the first is endurance, the second is skill, and the final is question based.[105] The record for most Head of Household competitions won in a single season is held by Drew Daniel, Janelle Pierzina, Hayden Moss, Rachel Reilly, Ian Terry, Aaryn Gries, Caleb Reynolds, Vanessa Rousso and Steve Moses in terms of reigns. Frankie Grande won HOH 5 times the sixteenth season, however he was dethroned twice due to the dual HoH twist that was in play during his season, and third reign was rewound due to the rewind button twist. This leaves Frankie with just two full reigns as HoH. Ian Terry has the record for most consecutive Head of Household wins, with four (winning at the Final 9, 7, 5 and 3 rounds) .[106] One of the Head of Household's duties is to nominate 2 people for eviction. Victoria from the sixteenth season holds the record for most times being nominated with nine.

text: Power of Veto (POV)[edit]

text: The Power of Veto is a power first introduced in Big Brother 3.[107] During it's first season, it did not allow a nominated HouseGuest to use it on themselves.[108] The final Power of Veto that season was the Golden Power of Veto, and allowed a nominated HouseGuest to remove themself from the block.[109] Following this, the Golden Power of Veto was used in all subsequent seasons.[110][111] The Diamond Power of Veto, used in Big Brother 12 allowed one HouseGuest to remove themselves from the block,[112] as well as choose the replacement nominee only moments before the live eviction.[113] Power of Veto competitions differ drastically from the Head of Household competition, with PoV competitions being more skill based in nature.[114] Competitions such as the "Pop Goes the Veto!" competition, which required HouseGuest to find letter tiles and spell the longest word, have been used in numerous consecutive seasons.[115][116] Competitions such as the "Big Brother Boardwalk" competition see HouseGuests attempting to guess how much of an item there is; this is one of various competitions that do not require HouseGuests to compete in a physical based competition.[117][118] The "How Bad Do You Want It?" Power of Veto competition, first introduced in the seventh season, saw HouseGuests taking punishments in exchange for advancing in the competition.[119] Variations of this competition have been used in numerous subsequent seasons.[120] HouseGuests Janelle Pierzina, Daniele Donato & Paul Abrahamian currently hold the record for most Power of Veto wins in a single season, with five wins each.[121] HouseGuests James Zinkand, Frank Eudy, and Shane Meaney all hold the record for most consecutive Power of Veto wins, with three each.[122]

text: Food and luxury[edit]

text: Food and luxury competitions have been a part of the series since it first premiered. In early seasons, the losers of the food competition would be placed on a peanut butter and jelly diet, and would not be permitted to eat any other foods.[123] Beginning with Big Brother 7, the losers of the Have-Not competition were required to eat "Big Brother Slop" for food, sleep in the Have-Not bedroom, and take cold showers for the week.[124][125][126][127] Slop has proven to be an issue for some HouseGuests; Hypoglycemic HouseGuest Amanda Hansen fainted and had a seizure after only a few days of being on the slop diet,[124] while HouseGuest Allison Nichols had an allergic reaction to the slop (both of these cases occurred in Big Brother 9).[128][129] Both women were medically evacuated from the house, though they returned the following morning.[130] HouseGuests who choose to break the slop rule are punished by Big Brother. HouseGuest Jen Johnson from Big Brother 8 was the first HouseGuest to break the food restriction rules, and earned a penalty eviction vote for doing so; she was ultimately evicted that week.[131][132] Audrey Middleton from Big Brother 17 and Matt Clines from Big Brother 19 also broke the rules and earned a penalty vote and ultimately evicted. HouseGuests Jeff Schroeder and Kevin Campbell of Big Brother 11 also broke the rules, to a lesser degree, and earned an extra day on the slop diet.[133] The HouseGuests also frequently compete in luxury competitions during their time in the house. Most frequently, HouseGuests will compete for the right to watch a film or television show in the house.[134] When competitions for films or television shows occur, an actor or actress from the series may enter the house to host the competition or speak with the HouseGuests. Actors such as Jeremy Piven,[135] David Hasselhoff,[136] and Neil Patrick Harris have all entered the house to participate in luxury competitions or rewards.[137]

text: Battle of the Block[edit]

text: The Battle of the Block was first introduced during Big Brother 16, and was reintroduced during the premiere of Big Brother 17. Instead of the normal singular Head of Household (HOH), two HOHs were named for that week. Each would then nominate a pair of nominees. These two pairs of nominees would compete against each other in a competition. The winning pair was safe from eviction and dethroned the HOH that nominated, allowing for the other HOH to remain in power for the rest of the week. While the winning pair was safe from eviction for the rest of the week, the dethroned HOH was not. There were eight Battle of the Block competitions in season 16 and five in season 17.

text: Battle Back[edit]

text: The Battle Back Competition allows an evicted house guest to return into the house and play as if they had never left. This competition was first introduced in Season 18 and returned to play a role in Season 19 as well.

text: During Season 18, the first two evicted house guests battled one on one, and the winner went on to compete against the third. The winner of that matchup would face the next evicted HouseGuest, and the winner of the final match-up re-entered the game. Victor Arroyo was the winner. Also that season, jury members competed alongside the HouseGuests still in the game. The last HouseGuest standing became the new HoH while the last Jury member standing returned to the game. Victor won this Battle Back making him the first HouseGuest in Big Brother history to reenter the game in the same season for a third time. This version of the Battle Back did not return for season 19.

text: During Season 19, the four evicted house guests played against each other in one competition. The top two then played head-to-head, and the winner then had to face off against a member inside the house. If the evicted house guest won, they would re-enter the game. However, if the non-evicted house guest won, no one would re-enter the game and all four evicted house guests would be permanently eliminated. Cody Nickson beat Paul Abrahamian in the final round and reentered the game.

text: Series details and viewership[edit]

text:
Season
Launch date
Finale date
Days
HouseGuests
Winner
Final Vote
Runner-Up
Average
viewers
(millions)
Episodes

1
July 5, 2000
September 29, 2000
88
10
Eddie McGee
59–27–14%1
Josh Souza
9.10
70

2
July 5, 2001
September 20, 2001
82
12
Will Kirby
5–2
Nicole Schaffrich
7.90
30

3
July 10, 2002
September 25, 2002
Lisa Donahue
9–1
Danielle Reyes
8.70
33

4
July 8, 2003
September 24, 2003
13
Jun Song
6–1
Alison Irwin
8.80
33

5
July 6, 2004
September 21, 2004
14 !142
Drew Daniel
4–3
Michael "Cowboy" Ellis
8.30
31

6
July 7, 2005
September 20, 2005
80
14
Maggie Ausburn
4–3
Ivette Corredro
7.24
30

7
July 6, 2006
September 12, 2006
72
14 !14 (All Returnees)3
Mike "Boogie" Malin
6–1
Erika Landin
7.56
28

8
July 5, 2007
September 18, 2007
81
14
"Evel" Dick Donato
5–2
Daniele Donato
7.52
33

9
February 12, 2008
April 27, 2008
16
Adam Jasinski
6–1
Ryan Quicksall
6.56
33

10
July 13, 2008
September 16, 2008
71
13
Dan Gheesling
7–0
Memphis Garrett
6.72
29

11
July 9, 2009
September 15, 2009
73
13 !13 (1 Returnee)4
Jordan Lloyd
5–25
Natalie Martinez
7.19
30

12
July 8, 2010
September 15, 2010
75
13
Hayden Moss
4–3
Lane Elenburg
7.76
30

13
July 7, 2011
September 14, 2011
14 !14 (6 Returnees)
Rachel Reilly
4–3
Porsche Briggs
7.95
29

14
July 12, 2012
September 19, 2012
16 !16 (4 Returnees)
Ian Terry
6–1
Dan Gheesling
6.79
30

15
June 26, 2013
September 18, 2013
90
16
Andy Herren
7–2
GinaMarie Zimmerman
6.47
36

16
June 25, 2014
September 24, 2014
97
Derrick Levasseur
7–2
Cody Calafiore
6.41
40

17
June 24, 2015
September 23, 2015
98
17 !176
Steve Moses
6–3
Liz Nolan
6.18
40

18
June 22, 2016
September 21, 2016
99
16 (4 Returnees)
Nicole Franzel
5–4
Paul Abrahamian
5.78
42

19
June 28, 2017
September 20, 2017
92
17 (1 Returnee)7
Josh Martinez
5–4
6.06
39

20[4]
Summer 2018
Summer 2018

text:
Season
Launch date
Finale date
Days
HouseGuests
Winner
Final Vote
Runner-Up
Average
viewers
(millions)
Episodes

Over the Top
September 28, 2016
December 1, 2016
65
13 (1 Returnee)8
Morgan Willett
America's Vote1
Jason Roy
N/A
10

Celebrity Big Brother
Winter 2018
2018

text:
^1 For the first season of the main edition and the digital edition, the public voted to determine the winner between the three finalists. However, the voting percentages were not revealed for BBOTT.
^2 Thirteen HouseGuests were originally announced with a set of identical twins secretly playing as one HouseGuest. After surviving the first four evictions, the twins were allowed to compete as individuals.
^3 The 14 returning HouseGuests were chosen among 20 candidates—eight through public vote, and six by the producers.
^4 The returning HouseGuest was chosen among four candidates, determined by a competition.
^5 One of the HouseGuests was expelled from the house during the season. Due to this, their vote was instead decided by the American public.
^6 Sixteen HouseGuests were originally announced with a set of identical twins secretly playing as one HouseGuest. After surviving the first five evictions, the twins were allowed to compete as individuals.
^7 The returning HouseGuest entered the house as a result of an opening night twist.
^8 The returning HouseGuest was chosen among two candidates, determined by public vote. The candidates were from the main edition.

text: Controversy and criticism[edit]

text: Since its inception, Big Brother has been criticized following reports of "HIB" (Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying),[138] violence in the house, obscene language,[139][140][141][142] breach of integrity,[143][144] and the physical and mental strain of appearing on the series.[145]


document_title: Kansas (band)

question_text: when did carry on my wayward son come out

root

text: Kansas (band)

text: History[edit]

text: 1970–1973: Early years[edit]

text: In 1969 Don Montre and Kerry Livgren (guitars, keyboards, synthesizers) were performing in a band called The Reasons Why in their hometown of Topeka, Kansas. After leaving to form the band Saratoga with Lynn Meredith and Dan Wright, they started playing Livgren's original material, with Scott Kessler playing bass and Zeke Lowe coming in on drums.

tag: p

text: In 1970 they changed the band's name to Kansas and merged with members of rival Topeka progressive rock group White Clover. White Clover members Dave Hope (bass) and Phil Ehart (drums, percussion) joined with Livgren, vocalists Meredith and Greg Allen, keyboardists Montre and Wright and saxophonist Larry Baker.[3] This early Kansas group, which lasted until early 1971 when Ehart, Hope and some of the others left to re-form White Clover, is sometimes referred to as Kansas I.

text: Ehart was replaced by Zeke Lowe and later Brad Schulz, Hope was replaced by Rod Mikinski on bass and Baker was replaced by John Bolton on saxophone and flute (This lineup is sometimes referred to as Kansas II, and 30 years later would re-form under the name Proto-Kaw).

text: In 1972, after Ehart returned from England (where he had gone to look for other musicians), he and Hope once again re-formed White Clover with Robby Steinhardt (vocals, violin, viola, cello), Steve Walsh (vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, percussion) and Rich Williams (guitars). In early 1973 they recruited Livgren from the second Kansas group, which then folded.[5] Eventually they received a recording contract with Don Kirshner's eponymous label, after Kirshner's assistant, Wally Gold, heard one of their demo tapes and came out to check out the band at one of their local gigs in March 1973. After signing with Kirshner, the group decided to return to using the name "Kansas".

text: 1974–1979: Rise to national prominence[edit]

text: Their self-titled debut album, produced by Gold, was released in March 1974, nearly a year after it was recorded in New York. It defined the band's signature sound, a mix of American-style boogie rock and complex, symphonic arrangements with changing time signatures. Steinhardt's violin was a distinctive element of the group's sound, being defined more by heartland rock than the jazz and classical influences which most progressive rock violinists followed.

text: The band slowly developed a cult following due to promotion by Kirshner and extensive touring for the debut album and its two follow-ups, Song for America (February 1975) and Masque (October 1975). Song for America was co-produced by Wally Gold and their former White Clover bandmate Jeff Glixman, who would go on to produce all of their albums from Masque to Two for the Show (October 1978) on his own, returning to the helm for 1995's Freaks of Nature. Both Masque and their next release, Leftoverture, were recorded at a studio in the middle of the Louisiana Bayou named Studio in the Country.

text: Kansas released its fourth album, Leftoverture, in October 1976, which produced a hit single, "Carry On Wayward Son", in 1977. The follow-up, Point of Know Return, recorded at Studio in the Country and Woodland Sound in Nashville and released in October 1977, featured the title track and "Dust in the Wind", both hit singles. Leftoverture was a breakthrough for the band, hitting No. 5 on Billboard's pop album chart. Point of Know Return peaked even higher, at No. 4. Leftoverture and Point each sold over four million copies in the U.S. Both "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind" were certified gold singles, selling over one million units each. "Dust in the Wind" was certified gold as a digital download by the RIAA in 2005, almost 30 years after selling one million copies as a single. Leftoverture was eventually certified five-times platinum by the RIAA in 2001.

text: During this period, Kansas became a major headlining act and sold out the largest venues available to rock bands at the time, including New York's Madison Square Garden. The band documented this era in 1978 with Two for the Show, a double live album of recordings from various performances from its 1977 and 1978 tours. The band gained a solid reputation for faithful live reproduction of their studio recordings.

text: In March 1978 Kansas was brought over to tour Europe for the very first time and later on that same year, they were named UNICEF Deputy Ambassadors of Goodwill.[6]

text: The follow-up studio album to Point of Know Return was Monolith (May 1979), which was self-produced. The album generated a Top 40 single in "People of the South Wind", whose title refers to the meaning of the 'Kanza' (Kaw) Native American people, after whom the state and the band are named. The album failed to garner the sales and radio airplay of its two predecessors. Nevertheless, the album eventually went platinum. Livgren's platinum award for the album is on display at the Kansas History Museum.[7] The band toured the US for Monolith during the summer and fall of 1979 then went over to tour Japan for the first time in January 1980.

text: 1980–1984: Creative tensions[edit]

text: Kansas' band members began to drift apart in the early 1980s. During the tour supporting Monolith, Livgren became a born-again Christian, and this was reflected in his lyrics on the next three albums, beginning with Audio-Visions (September 1980). "Hold On", a Top 40 single from that album, displayed his new-found faith. Hope soon converted to Christianity as well. This would be the final album with the original lineup (until they briefly reunited in 1999-2000), and also the last Kansas studio album to be certified gold by the RIAA.

text: Due to creative differences over the lyrical direction of the next album, Walsh left in October 1981 to form a new band, Streets. In early 1982 Walsh was replaced by vocalist/keyboardist/guitarist John Elefante,[3] who—unknown to Livgren and Hope at the time—was also a Christian.[8] He was chosen from over 200 applicants, such as Sammy Hagar, Doug Pinnick, Ted Neeley (who played the title character in the movie Jesus Christ Superstar), Warren Ham (ex-Bloodrock, who would join the band on the road in 1982 adding sax, flute, harmonica, back-up vocals and extra keyboards) and Michael Gleason (who would supply keyboards and back-up vocals on the group's 1983 tour).

text: Kansas' first album with Elefante, Vinyl Confessions, was released in June 1982. The record renewed interest in the group and generated the band's first Top 20 hit in several years, "Play the Game Tonight", which hit number 4 on Billboard's newly deployed Mainstream Rock chart. The album's mostly Christianity-based lyrics attracted a new audience. Still, sales of the album fell short of gold status.

text: Drastic Measures followed in July 1983. For various reasons, Livgren contributed only three songs to the album. The rest were penned by the Elefante brothers (John and Dino, who later became successful producers for contemporary Christian music artists, including Sweet Comfort Band, Petra, Bride, Rick Cua and Guardian). With violinist Steinhardt leaving the group before the recording sessions, the result was a more mainstream pop-rock album. Though the album charted lower than any Kansas album since Masque, peaking at number 41, its single "Fight Fire with Fire" fared better. It did not crack the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, but reached No. 3 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. It was the highest chart position of any Kansas release on any chart, though this particular chart did not exist prior to 1981. For their 1983 tour for Drastic Measures, Kansas was joined on stage by the aforementioned Michael Gleason and Terry Brock (who covered the absent Steinhardt's harmony vocals).

text: During the band's time with Elefante as lead vocalist, Livgren became increasingly uncomfortable with Kansas representing his Christian worldview. After a final New Year's Eve performance on December 31, 1983, Livgren and Hope left to form AD with Warren Ham and Michael Gleason. They were joined by drummer Dennis Holt.

text: Elefante, Ehart and Williams sought to continue as Kansas and recorded one more song, "Perfect Lover", which appeared on the retrospective The Best of Kansas (August 1984), which has sold over 4 million units in the U.S. alone. The song would eventually be removed in favor of other songs on the remastered release of the compilation. The group disbanded after its release, which thus became the final Kansas recording with Elefante. Since leaving the band, Elefante has become a popular Contemporary Christian music artist and has not performed with the group since.

text: In March 1984 Ehart, Williams and Elefante were part of a United Service Organizations (USO) tour of US military bases that had been put together by Ehart, called 1st Airborne Rock and Roll Division, that also included Patrick Simmons (Doobie Brothers), Leon Medica (LeRoux), David Jenkins, Cory Lerios and John Pierce (from Pablo Cruise) and Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen and Bun E. Carlos (from Cheap Trick). The supergroup began four days of rehearsals in Hawaii on March 10 before beginning a 17-day tour playing for the United States Seventh Fleet in the Indian Ocean and land-based troops in Korea, Okinawa, Diego Garcia and the Philippines. This was followed by a second USO tour in March 1985 that included Ehart, Williams and Steve Walsh.

text: 1985–1990: Reformation[edit]

text: In July 1985 the band came back together with Ehart, Williams and Walsh (who had briefly played keyboards on the road for Cheap Trick in the spring and summer of 1985 after the break up of Streets), but without Livgren, Hope or Steinhardt.[3] The new lineup included Streets bassist Billy Greer and guitarist Steve Morse (formerly of the Dixie Dregs). The first performances of the new lineup with Morse and Greer took place during a third USO 1st Airborne Rock and Roll Division tour that toured US military bases in the US, Japan, Okinawa, the Philippines, Singapore, Iceland and most of Europe during the late summer through early October 1986.

text: The re-formed band released Power in November 1986. The first single, "All I Wanted", became the last Kansas single to hit the Billboard Top 40 chart, peaking at No. 19.[3] It also received considerable airplay on MTV. Two more singles, the title track and "Can't Cry Anymore", were less successful, "Power" hitting the lower end of the Hot 100 and getting substantial play and charting on the Rock Charts, but "Can't Cry Anymore" receiving little airplay despite a clever music video.

text: The band added New Orleans native Greg Robert on keyboards and back-up vocals at the suggestion of LeRoux's Leon Medica. Greg played his first show with Kansas on January 31, 1987 at Roberto Clemente Stadium in Puerto Rico. The new lineup released a second album, In the Spirit of Things, in October 1988. The concept album and subsequent tour were popular with the fan base but did not receive widespread airplay beyond the "Stand Beside Me" video on MTV. Morse temporarily left the band at the end of a tour of Germany in April 1989.

text: On September 15, 1990, Walsh, Williams and Ehart played a charity event at the Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu, California, alongside Saga, Lou Gramm (of Foreigner), Mr. Big, Eddie Money, Kevin Cronin (from REO Speedwagon) and others. Alex Lifeson joined them on stage for a short set of Kansas before Geddy Lee flew in to join Alex for a Rush set, with Ehart on drums subbing for Neil Peart.[9]

text: In November 1990 a German promoter arranged to reunite all the original members of Kansas (except for Steinhardt) for a European tour. Greer joined them, along with keyboardist Greg Robert. At the end of the tour, Hope left again, but Livgren remained on into 1991.

text: 1991–1997: Addition of David Ragsdale[edit]

text: In March 1991 violinist David Ragsdale (who had submitted a tape of his playing to Ehart several years earlier) was invited to join the group and the return of the violin allowed Kansas to perform earlier material in arrangements closer to the originals. Livgren left during the 1991 summer tour, to be replaced temporarily by Steve Morse again. After the tour, Morse left the band for good to return to his own projects and eventually become a member of Deep Purple, and Ragsdale took over the extra guitar parts, leaving Williams as the primary guitar player. The resulting lineup of Ehart, Greer, Ragsdale, Robert, Walsh and Williams lasted from 1991 to 1997. This period saw one live album and accompanying video, Live at the Whisky (July 1992), and one studio album, Freaks of Nature (May 1995).

text: During the fall of 1993, drummer Van Romaine (formerly of Blood Sweat and Tears and Steve Morse's band) came in to substitute for Ehart, who was taking care of the group's business and putting together The Kansas Boxed Set, which was released in July 1994. Bryan Holmes, from The Producers, likewise filled in for Ehart during the spring and summer of 1994 until that December, when Phil returned for a tour of Germany.

text: On July 28, 1995 Kansas was inducted into the Rock Walk of Fame in Hollywood.

text: 1997–2006: Return of Robby Steinhardt[edit]

text: In early 1997, Robert and Ragsdale left the band, and Steinhardt returned.

text: In May 1998 Kansas released Always Never the Same, which featured Larry Baird conducting the London Symphony Orchestra. The album was a mix of older Kansas material (with new arrangements by Baird), several new songs and a cover of "Eleanor Rigby".

text: Somewhere to Elsewhere, a new studio album released in July 2000, featured all the original members of Kansas, plus Greer, with all songs written by Kerry Livgren. That same summer, Kansas was the opening act for Yes during their "Masterworks" tour.

text: During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Livgren would occasionally attend Kansas shows and come on stage to play one or more songs with the band. At a March 9, 2002 concert at Lake Tahoe, he played the whole show, subbing for Rich Williams, who was "under the weather", and another live album and DVD from Kansas, entitled Device - Voice - Drum, which was recorded in the band's present home of Atlanta, was released on June 15, 2002.

text: Also in 2002, Kansas II (the lineup prior to the recording and release of Kansas' first album) released an album under the name Proto-Kaw, featuring demos and live material recorded from 1971 to 1973. This led to a new studio album, Before Became After (2004), with most of the Kansas II members participating. Proto-Kaw released a third album, The Wait of Glory, in 2006 and their fourth and final studio album, Forth, was released in 2011, after which the band ceased.

text: 2006–2014: Continued touring and regained popularity[edit]

text: Kansas continued to tour every year. The 2006 tour was delayed for a few weeks due to Steinhardt's second departure in March[10] and Ragsdale's subsequent return to the lineup.

text: In 2008 the Kansas website announced that four of the five members (Ehart, Ragsdale, Williams and Greer) had formed a side recording group called Native Window and they released their self-titled debut album in June 2009.

text: In February 2009 Kansas recorded a concert in Topeka featuring a full symphony orchestra, with Larry Baird conducting. Morse and Livgren appeared as special guests on several songs. The performance was released on CD, DVD and Blu-ray as There's Know Place Like Home that October and the DVD hit No. 5 on the Billboard Music Video Chart the week after its release.

text: In July 2010 Kansas completed a 30-day "United We Rock" tour with fellow classic rock acts Styx and Foreigner. Kansas then began a collegiate tour in September 2010. On this tour they performed with the symphony orchestras of various US colleges in an effort to raise money for the individual schools' music programs. The success of the tour led the band to start another one the following year.

text: On September 13, 2012 Kansas began a new tour with a performance at the Best Buy Theater in New York City. Opening for them was the band King's X and a one-man-band called That 1 Guy. This tour featured many hits from the albums Leftoverture and Point of Know Return, as well as material from a number of their other albums.

text: The band kicked off 2013 being featured on the Rock Legends II cruise. The floating rock festival for a cause aboard Royal Caribbean International's Liberty of the Seas departed January 10, 2013 from Fort Lauderdale, FL. Other big names included Foreigner, Paul Rodgers, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Bachman & Turner, 38 Special, The Marshall Tucker Band, Blue Öyster Cult, Foghat and Molly Hatchet.

text: On March 1, 2013 Kansas announced a 40th anniversary celebration was in the works. However, Steinhardt suffered a heart attack days before the concert and was unable to participate.[11]

text: 2014–present: Retirement of Steve Walsh, The Prelude Implicit[edit]

text: On July 2, 2014 a statement was issued on the band's official Facebook page announcing the impending retirement of lead singer Steve Walsh.

text: On July 6, 2014 former Kansas lead singer John Elefante issued a statement that he had been contacted by the band on July 2 to discuss rejoining. However, on July 4, after turning to prayer, he said that it was not meant to be. At that point, he also cited Steve Walsh as one of the reasons he wanted to become a singer.[12]

text: A statement was issued on July 14, 2014 through the band's official Facebook page stating that Chicago native Ronnie Platt (who had previously sung with Shooting Star) had been selected as the band's new lead vocalist and keyboard player.

text: On July 24, 2014 the band announced that their longtime lighting specialist David Manion would be handling the main keyboard parts for the band on stage along with Platt, giving the group a full-time keyboardist for the first time since Greg Robert's departure in 1997. Manion had also handled keyboard responsibilities for Kansas' bassist and vocalist Billy Greer's band, Seventh Key.[13]

text: In March 2015 the band released a documentary, Miracles Out of Nowhere.[14] The documentary chronicles the band's formation and follows them throughout their success with Leftoverture and Point of Know Return. It was initially available in a limited-edition release that contained an extra DVD of bonus interviews. The documentary was released alongside a companion CD of the same name that contained a selection of the band's greatest hits along with snippets of commentary from the documentary.

text: On September 1, 2015 a press release announced that Kansas had signed with Inside Out Music, a German label dedicated to progressive rock and related genres, for the release of their upcoming 15th studio album.[15] The release of this album marked the longest period to date between studio releases since Kansas' previous album, Somewhere to Elsewhere, had been released over 15 years prior, in 2000. On February 26, 2016 the group officially announced The Prelude Implicit for a September 2016 release.[16] The album's co-producer and co-writer, Zak Rizvi, was subsequently named as a full member of the band, giving Kansas a second full-time guitarist for the first time since Steve Morse's departure in 1991.[17]

text: On September 30, 2016 the current lineup kicked off a multi-city tour at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the release of Leftoverture, which was done again in the spring of 2017 with a twelve show 40th anniversary tour, that, like the fall jaunt, included performances of newer tracks, older songs and a complete rendering of the full Leftoverture album. A two CD set, Leftoverture Live & Beyond, was released in November 2017 that contained nineteen songs culled from different shows during the tour and the band's 2017 fall dates also included further 40th anniversary shows.

text: In 2018 the group decided to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Point of Know Return by playing that album in its entirety at the shows on a tour, set to begin in September.

text: Influences[edit]

text: Kansas' musical style, the fusion of hard rock, southern rock and progressive rock,[18] was influenced by several previous bands. The music of Yes and Genesis was inspirational to Kansas, especially demonstrated in the lyrics of Walsh.[19] Livgren cited the 1960s band Touch as foundational to his development.[20] Livgren's evolving spirituality is reflected in the band's songs, with early works showing an interest in the mysticism of Eastern religions, works in the late 1970s influenced by the American spiritual philosophy of The Urantia Book, followed in the early 1980s by works embracing born-again Christianity.[21] The re-formed band produced a harder pop metal album in the late 1980s.[19][2]

text: In a 2003 interview with The A.V. Club, Berkeley Breathed, the creator of the Opus comic strip, revealed that "Opus was named after a Kansas song." From the band's 1976 album Leftoverture, the songs "Opus Insert" and the epic "Magnum Opus" could both be the inspiration for the name. He also added, "If you're too young to know who Kansas was, to hell with you."

text: Appearances in other media[edit]

text: "Carry On Wayward Son" has been covered by many artists. It was included on soundtracks for the following movies and television shows: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Family Guy, Gentlemen Broncos, Happy Gilmore, Heroes (1977), Scrubs, South Park ("Guitar Queer-o" episode), King of the Hill ("My Own Private Rodeo") and Strangers with Candy ("Yes You Can't"). It was also featured in the video games Grand Theft Auto V, Guitar Hero II, Guitar Hero Smash Hits, Rock Band 2, and Rock Band Unplugged. The song is frequently played throughout the show Supernatural also appears in Supernatural: The Anime Series (as the ending for each episode).

text: "Dust in the Wind" was parodied by comedian Tim Hawkins, the parody called "A Whiff Of Kansas" which is on the Pretty Pink Tractor album, and a video parody on the Insanitized live DVD. In 2016, the music video for the song was parodied on The Late Late Show with James Corden.[22]

text: Band members[edit]

text:
Phil Ehart - drums, percussion (1973–1984, 1985–present)
Rich Williams - lead and rhythm guitar (1973–1984, 1985–present)
Billy Greer - bass, backing vocals (1985–present), lead vocals (2006–present)
David Ragsdale - violin, rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1991–1997, 2006–present)
Ronnie Platt - lead and backing vocals, keyboards (2014–present)
David Manion - keyboards, backing vocals (2014–present)
Zak Rizvi - rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals (2016–present)

tag: ul

text:
Kerry Livgren - lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards (1973–1983, 1990–1991, 1999–2000)
Dave Hope - bass (1973–1983, 1990, 1999–2000)
Robby Steinhardt - violin, backing and lead vocals (1973–1982, 1997–2006)
Steve Walsh - lead vocals, keyboards, percussion (1973–1981, 1985–2014), backing vocals (1973–1981, 1997–2014)
John Elefante - lead vocals, keyboards (1982–1984), backing vocals (1982)
Steve Morse - lead guitar, backing vocals (1985–1991)
Greg Robert - keyboards (1990–1997; Touring member: 1986–1990)

text:
Budd Carr (1974–1989)
Phil Ehart (1990–present)

text:
Line-ups in eras

Years
Lineup
Albums

1973–1981

Phil Ehart – drums, percussion
Dave Hope – bass
Kerry Livgren – lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards
Robby Steinhardt – violin, backing and lead vocals
Steve Walsh – lead and backing vocals, keyboards, percussion
Rich Williams – rhythm and lead guitar

Kansas (1974)
Song for America (1975)
Masque (1975)
Leftoverture (1976)
Point of Know Return (1977)
Two for the Show (1978)
Monolith (1979)
Audio-Visions (1980)

1982–1983

Phil Ehart – drums, percussion
Dave Hope – bass
Kerry Livgren – lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards
Robby Steinhardt – violin, backing and lead vocals
Rich Williams – rhythm and lead guitar
John Elefante – lead and backing vocals, keyboards

Vinyl Confessions (1982)

1983

Phil Ehart – drums, percussion
Dave Hope – bass
Kerry Livgren – lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards
Rich Williams – rhythm and lead guitar
John Elefante – lead vocals, keyboards

Drastic Measures (1983)

1984

Phil Ehart – drums, percussion
Rich Williams – lead and rhythm guitar
John Elefante – lead vocals, keyboards

The Best of Kansas (1984)
(1 new song)

1984–1985
Disbanded

1985–1986

Phil Ehart – drums, percussion
Rich Williams – rhythm and lead guitar
Billy Greer – bass, backing vocals
Steve Morse – lead guitar
Steve Walsh – lead vocals, keyboards

1986–1989

Phil Ehart – drums, percussion
Rich Williams – rhythm and lead guitar
Billy Greer – bass, backing vocals
Steve Morse – lead guitar, backing vocals
Steve Walsh – lead vocals, keyboards
Greg Robert (touring member) – keyboards

Power (1986)
In the Spirit of Things (1988)

1989–1990

Phil Ehart – drums, percussion
Rich Williams – lead and rhythm guitar
Billy Greer – bass, backing vocals
Steve Walsh – lead vocals, keyboards
Greg Robert (touring member) – keyboards

1990

Phil Ehart – drums, percussion
Rich Williams – rhythm and lead guitar
Billy Greer – bass, backing vocals
Steve Walsh – lead vocals, keyboards
Dave Hope – bass
Kerry Livgren – lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards
Greg Robert – keyboards

1990–1991

Phil Ehart – drums, percussion
Rich Williams – rhythm and lead guitar
Billy Greer – bass, backing vocals
Steve Walsh – lead vocals, keyboards
Kerry Livgren – lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards
Greg Robert – keyboards

1991

Phil Ehart – drums, percussion
Rich Williams – rhythm and lead guitar
Billy Greer – bass, backing vocals
Steve Walsh – lead vocals, keyboards
Kerry Livgren – lead guitar, keyboards
Greg Robert – keyboards
David Ragsdale – violin, rhythm guitar, backing vocals

1991

Phil Ehart – drums, percussion
Rich Williams – rhythm and lead guitar
Billy Greer – bass, backing vocals
Steve Walsh – lead vocals, keyboards
Greg Robert – keyboards
David Ragsdale – violin, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Steve Morse – lead guitar, backing vocals

1991–1997

Phil Ehart – drums, percussion
Rich Williams – lead and rhythm guitar
Billy Greer – bass, backing vocals
Steve Walsh – lead vocals, keyboards
Greg Robert – keyboards
David Ragsdale – violin, rhythm guitar, backing vocals

Live at the Whisky (1992)
Freaks of Nature (1995)

1997–1999

Phil Ehart – drums, percussion
Rich Williams – lead and rhythm guitar
Billy Greer – bass, backing vocals
Steve Walsh – lead and backing vocals, keyboards
Robby Steinhardt – violin, backing and lead vocals

Always Never the Same (1998)

1999–2000

Phil Ehart – drums, percussion
Rich Williams – rhythm and lead guitar
Billy Greer – bass, backing vocals
Steve Walsh – lead and backing vocals, keyboards
Robby Steinhardt – violin, backing and lead vocals
Dave Hope – bass
Kerry Livgren – lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards

Somewhere to Elsewhere (2000)

2000–2006

Phil Ehart – drums, percussion
Rich Williams – lead and rhythm guitar
Billy Greer – bass, backing vocals
Steve Walsh – lead and backing vocals, keyboards
Robby Steinhardt – violin, backing and lead vocals

Device – Voice – Drum (2002)

2006–2014

Phil Ehart – drums, percussion
Rich Williams – lead and rhythm guitar
Billy Greer – bass, backing and lead vocals
Steve Walsh – lead and backing vocals, keyboards
David Ragsdale – violin, rhythm guitar, backing vocals

There's Know Place Like Home (2009)

2014–2016

Phil Ehart – drums, percussion
Rich Williams – lead and rhythm guitar
Billy Greer – bass, backing and lead vocals
David Ragsdale – violin, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
David Manion – keyboards, backing vocals
Ronnie Platt – lead and backing vocals, keyboards

2016–present

Phil Ehart – drums, percussion
Rich Williams – lead and rhythm guitar
Billy Greer – bass, backing and lead vocals
David Ragsdale – violin, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
David Manion – keyboards, backing vocals
Ronnie Platt – lead and backing vocals, keyboards
Zak Rizvi – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals

The Prelude Implicit (2016)

tag: table

text: Timeline

text: Discography[edit]

text:
Kansas (1974)
Song for America (1975)
Masque (1975)
Leftoverture (1976)
Point of Know Return (1977)
Monolith (1979)
Audio-Visions (1980)
Vinyl Confessions (1982)
Drastic Measures (1983)
Power (1986)
In the Spirit of Things (1988)
Freaks of Nature (1995)
Always Never the Same (1998)
Somewhere to Elsewhere (2000)
The Prelude Implicit (2016)

text: Tours[edit]

text:
2011 Collegiate Symphony Tour (2011-2012)
Fall 2012 Tour
Leftoverture 40th Anniversary Tour (2016-2018)


document_title: JetBlue

question_text: how many planes does jetblue have in their fleet

question_tokens: how many planes does jetblue have in their fleet

text: JetBlue

text: History[edit]

text: Founding[edit]

text: JetBlue was incorporated in Delaware in August 1998.[1] David Neeleman founded the company in February 1999, under the name "NewAir".[8] JetBlue started by following Southwest's approach of offering low-cost travel, but sought to distinguish itself by its amenities, such as in-flight entertainment, TV at every seat, and Sirius XM satellite radio. In Neeleman's words, JetBlue looks "to bring humanity back to air travel".

text: In September 1999, the airline was awarded 75 initial take off/landing slots at John F. Kennedy International Airport and received formal U.S. authorization in February 2000. It commenced operations on February 11, 2000, with services to Buffalo and Fort Lauderdale.[9]

text: JetBlue's founders had set out to call the airline "Taxi" and therefore have a yellow livery to associate the airline with New York. The idea was dropped, however, for several reasons: the negative connotation behind New York City taxis; the ambiguity of the word taxi with regard to air traffic control; and threats from investor JP Morgan to pull its share ($20 million of the total $128 million) of the airline's initial funding unless the name was changed.[10]

text: JetBlue was one of only a few U.S. airlines that made a profit during the sharp downturn in airline travel following the September 11, 2001 attacks.[11]

text: The airline sector responded to JetBlue's market presence by starting mini-rival carriers: Delta Air Lines started Song and United Airlines launched another rival called Ted. Song has since been disbanded and was reabsorbed by Delta Air Lines and Ted reabsorbed by United.[12]

text: In October 2005, JetBlue's quarterly profit had plunged from US$8.1 million to $2.7 million largely due to rising fuel costs. Operational issues, fuel prices, and low fares, JetBlue's hallmark, were bringing its financial performance down. In addition, with higher costs related to the airline's numerous amenities, JetBlue was becoming less competitive.

text: Regardless, the airline continued to plan for growth. Thirty-six new aircraft were scheduled for delivery in the year 2006.

text: For many years, analysts had predicted that JetBlue's growth rate would become unsustainable. Despite this, the airline continued to add planes and routes to the fleet at a brisk pace. In addition in 2006, the IAM (International Association of Machinists) attempted to unionize JetBlue's "ramp service workers", in a move that was described by JetBlue's COO Dave Barger as "pretty hypocritical", as the IAM opposed JetBlue's creation when it was founded as New Air in 1998. The union organizing petition was dismissed by the National Mediation Board because fewer than 35 percent of eligible employees supported an election.

text: JetBlue experienced its first ever quarterly loss during the fourth quarter of 2005, when the airline lost $42.4 million, enough to make them unprofitable for the entire year of 2005. The loss was the airline's first since going public in 2002. JetBlue also reported a loss in the first quarter of 2006. In addition to that, JetBlue forecasted a loss for 2006, citing high fuel prices, operating inefficiency, and fleet costs. During the first quarter report, CEO David Neeleman, President Dave Barger, and then-CFO John Owen released JetBlue's "Return to Profitability" ("RTP") plan, stating in detail how they would curtail costs and improve revenue to regain profitability. The plan called for $50 million in annual cost cuts and a push to boost revenue by $30 million. JetBlue Airways moved out of the red during the second quarter of 2006, beating Wall Street expectations by announcing a net profit of $14 million. That result was flat when compared to JetBlue's results from the same quarter a year before ($13 million), but it was double Wall Street forecasts of a $7 million profit, Reuters reports. The carrier said cost-cutting and stronger revenue helped it offset higher jet fuel costs. In October 2006, JetBlue announced a net loss of $500,000 for Quarter 3, and a plan to regain that loss by deferring some of their E190 deliveries and by selling 5 of their A320s.

text: In December 2006, JetBlue, as part of their RTP plan, removed a row of seats from their A320s to lighten the aircraft by 904 lb (410 kg) and reduce the cabin crew size from four to three (per FAA regulation requiring one flight attendant per 50 seats), thus offsetting the lost revenue from the removal of seats, and further lightening the aircraft, resulting in less fuel burned.[13]

text: In January 2007, JetBlue returned to profitability with a fourth quarter profit in 2006, reversing a quarterly loss in the year-earlier period. As part of the RTP plan, 2006's full year loss was $1 million compared to 2005's full year loss of $20 million. JetBlue was one of the few major airlines to post a profit in that quarter.

text: While its financial performance started showing signs of improvement, in February 2007, JetBlue faced a crisis, when a snowstorm hit the Northeast and Midwest, throwing the airline's operations into chaos. Because JetBlue followed the practice of never canceling flights, it desisted from calling flights off, even when the ice storm hit and the airline was forced to keep several planes on the ground. Because of this, passengers were kept waiting at the airports for their flights to take off. In some cases, passengers who had already boarded their planes were kept waiting on the tarmac for several hours and were not allowed to disembark. However, after all this, the airline was eventually forced to cancel most of its flights because of prevailing weather conditions.[14] The fiasco reportedly cost JetBlue $30 million.[15]

text: In 2007, JetBlue was also facing reliability problems with its Embraer 190 fleet. For a couple months JetBlue contracted ExpressJet to operate four Embraer 145 regional jets on behalf of JetBlue. While this was going on two E-190 aircraft at a time were sent to an Embraer maintenance facility in Nashville, Tennessee.[16] ExpressJet operated routes between Boston Logan and Buffalo, New York and Washington Dulles, and between New York–JFK and Columbus, Ohio (has terminated) and Richmond, Virginia.[17]

text: Following the February 2007 incident in which the airline was forced to cancel nearly 1,700 flights due to winter storms, JetBlue's board of directors replaced founder and Chief Executive Officer David Neeleman with Dave Barger.[18] He had politicked the board, while Neeleman was busy publicly apologizing. Barger's ascendancy caused widespread demoralization in the ranks.[19] He became JetBlue's new Chief Executive Officer on May 10, 2007.[20] Neeleman, the company's founder and largest individual investor, became a nonexecutive chairman as a result of the change.[21]

text: On July 24, 2007, JetBlue reported that its second-quarter revenue increased to $730 million, compared to $612 in 2006. Second quarter net income grew to $21 million for the quarter, from $14 million the previous year. CEO David Barger said the airline will take delivery of three fewer planes this year and will sell three planes from their current fleet, "slowing capacity growth ... to strengthen our balance sheet and facilitate earnings growth", but will continue to add two to four new destinations each year.[22]

text: In July 2007, the airline partnered with 20th Century Fox's film The Simpsons Movie to become the "Official Airline of Springfield". In addition a contest was held in which the grand prize would be a trip on JetBlue to Los Angeles to attend the premiere of the film. The airline's website was also redecorated with characters and their favorite JetBlue destinations and the company was taken over by the show/film's businessman villain Montgomery Burns.[23]

text: In August 2007, the airline added exclusive content from The New York Times in the form of an in-flight video magazine, conducted by Times journalists and content from NYTimes.com.[24]

text: On November 8, 2007, JetBlue appointed Ed Barnes as interim CFO, following the resignation of former CFO John Harvey.[25]

text: On December 13, 2007, JetBlue and Germany-based Lufthansa announced JetBlue’s intent to sell 19% of JetBlue to Lufthansa, pending approval from US regulators. Following the acquisition, Lufthansa stated they plan to seek operational cooperation with JetBlue.[26] Lufthansa plans to offer connections to JetBlue flights in Boston, New York (JFK), and Orlando International Airport (no longer a connection).[27]

text: JetBlue expanded service to the Caribbean, including to St. Maarten and Puerto Plata commencing January 10, 2008. With these additional destinations, JetBlue serves a total of twelve Caribbean/Atlantic destinations including Aruba; Barbados; Bermuda; Cancún; Nassau; Aguadilla; Ponce; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Santiago; and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

text: In the March edition of Airways Magazine, it was announced that once JetBlue partnered with Yahoo! and with BlackBerry producer Research in Motion, that the airline would offer free, limited Wi-Fi capabilities on a single aircraft, N651JB, an Airbus A320-200 dubbed "BetaBlue". People access e-mail with a Wi-Fi capable Blackberry, or use Yahoo!'s e-mail and instant messaging with a Wi-Fi capable laptop, while in flight over the US. LiveTV in Melbourne Florida, created and operated the "BetaBlue" prototype. The "BetaBlue" system utilized the bandwidth and infrastructure of defunct Airfone.[28]

text: On March 19, 2008, JetBlue added Orlando, Florida as a gateway focus city to international destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America. New international routes from Orlando International Airport include Cancún, Mexico, Bridgetown, Barbados, Bogotá, Colombia, Nassau, Bahamas, San José, Costa Rica, and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. In conjunction with the addition of new routes the airline will continue significant expansion of operations at Orlando International Airport including a planned 292-room lodge that will house trainees attending the existing "JetBlue University" training facility (opened in 2015).[29]

text: On April 8, 2008, JetBlue introduced a new "Happy Jetting" brand campaign. The marketing campaign, developed in partnership with JWT New York, emphasizes competitive fares, service and complimentary onboard amenities such as free satellite television and radio, snacks, and leather seats.[30][31]

text: On May 21, 2008, JetBlue named Joel Peterson chairman and Frank Sica vice chairman of its board of directors, replacing David Neeleman, who stepped down as CEO in 2007.[32]

text: On August 4, 2008, the Associated Press reported that JetBlue would replace their recycled pillows and blankets with an "ecofriendly" pillow and blanket package that passengers would have to purchase for use. Each package will cost $7, and will include a $5 coupon from retailer Bed, Bath and Beyond. This decision is the latest in a series of moves designed to increase revenue. JetBlue told the Associated Press that it expects to collect $40 million from passengers selecting seats with extra legroom and $20 million from passengers paying $15 to check a second bag. As of September 8, 2008[update] JetBlue charges passengers $10–30 for an extended-leg-room seat depending on the length of the flight.[33]

text: In September 2008, JetBlue began operating Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin's campaign aircraft, an E190.[34][35]

text: On October 13, 2009, the airline unveiled a modification to its livery in commemoration of the upcoming 10th anniversary of the airline in February 2010. Besides a new tail design, the revised livery includes larger "billboard" titles extending down over the passenger windows at the front of the aircraft. The logo word 'jetBlue' will no longer be silver and blue but now a dark, navy blue.[36]

text: On October 22, 2008 JetBlue opened its new primary hub at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Terminal 5, or simply T5. The mostly new terminal, costing approximately $800 million,[37] partially encircles the historic TWA Flight Center, the former Trans World Airlines terminal designed by Eero Saarinen, which remains closed. According to the plan, passengers will eventually be able to check in for flights in the landmark building, then transfer to the new structure via the original passenger departing-arrival tubes from Saarinen's original terminal and its 1969 addition by Roche-Dinkeloo.[38]

text: The first flight arrived from Bob Hope Airport (B6 #358) at 5:06 am followed by arrivals from Oakland International Airport and Long Beach Airport, respectively.[39][40] The last flight to operate out of T6 was a departure to Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, departing at 11:59 pm.

text: On June 16, 2010, JetBlue began selling snack boxes on Airbus A320 flights over 3 hours, 45 minutes. There are 5 options for $6 each.[41]

text: In March 22, 2010, JetBlue turned down incentives from the City of Orlando and announced its headquarters would keep its Forest Hills office,[42][43][44][45] start leasing and using a new office in the Brewster Building in Long Island City, New York.[46][47] in Queens Plaza in Long Island City,[45] move its headquarters there in mid-2012,[48] and start a joint branding deal with New York State using the iconic I Love NY logo.[45]

text: On October 14, 2010, the California Council of the Blind and three individuals with visual impairments have filed a lawsuit against JetBlue Airways in Federal Court on allegations that JetBlue's website and airport kiosks are not accessible.[49]

text: On October 18, 2011, CFO Ed Barnes resigned, effective immediately. The company's treasurer, Mark Powers, was appointed interim CFO until a replacement for Barnes could be found.[50]

text: On June 13, 2012, JetBlue ranked 'Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Low Cost Carriers in North America' by J.D. Power and Associates, a customer satisfaction recognition received for the eighth year in a row.[51]

text: In October 2013, JetBlue introduced Mint, a premium cabin service on transcontinental and select Caribbean flights. The service began in 2014, using the Airbus A321-200 aircraft ordered by JetBlue. These planes are outfitted with winglets, as well as with "lie flat" seats, and moveable partitions that can create small suites on the airplane.[52] Called "Mint" by JetBlue, these planes are configured with 16 business-class seats and 143 economy seats, instead of an all-economy configuration of 190 seats.[53]

text: On April 22, 2014, JetBlue's pilots voted to unionize for the first time since the airline was founded, with 71% casting ballots in favor of joining the ALPA.[54]

text: On September 18, 2014, Dave Barger announced his resignation from the company effective February 16, 2015, following several reports that investors and the board were unhappy with his performance.[55][56] He was replaced on the board and as CEO by Robin Hayes.[57]

text: During the last few days of June and the first few days of July 2015, JetBlue began charging for bags in certain booking classes, leaving Southwest Airlines the only major U.S. carrier to not charge for bags. For the classes in which bag check fees are charged (generally the lowest class of fares offered; JetBlue offers 3 classes of fares), the cost is $20 for the first bag and $35 for the second, which is the lowest in the United States besides Frontier Airlines with similar prices.[58]

text: In 2016, JetBlue was unsuccessful in acquiring Virgin America, which was acquired by Alaska Airlines Group.[59]

text: In July 2016, JetBlue announced commercial flights from the United States to Cuba will commence in late August.[60][61] On August 31, 2016, JetBlue Flight 387 from Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport to Abel Santamaría Airport, in Santa Clara, became the first scheduled commercial flight between the United States and Cuba in 55 years.[62] Only charter flights were allowed under previous rules, which required that passengers had to arrive more than 4 hours before the scheduled departure and often endure long lines for documentation checks, late flight arrivals, and pay high baggage fees.[63]

text: In November 2016, JetBlue painted one of their Airbus A320 aircraft, N763JB, in a 1960s retrojet livery, dubbed "What's Old is Blue Again". The livery's maiden flight was on Friday, from New York JFK to Palm Springs.[64]

text: In July 2017, JetBlue announced it was taking qualifications to develop a terminal at JFK that would not only occupy terminal 5 but also the space of terminal 6 and 7.[65]

text: In April 2018, JetBlue announced their return to Ontario, California after 10 years, as well as new service to Steamboat Springs, CO, and Bozeman, MT.[66]

text: Corporate affairs[edit]

text: Business trends[edit]

text: The key trends for JetBlue over recent years are shown below (as at year ending 31 December):

text:
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016

Revenue (US$m)
2,364
2,843
3,392
3,292
3,779
4,504
4,982
5,441
5,817
6,416
6,632

Net profit (US$m)
−7
12
−84
61
97
86
128
168
401
677
759

Number of employees (FTE)
9,265
9,909
9,895
10,704
11,121
11,532
12,035
12,447
13,280
14,537
15,696

Number of passengers (m)
18.6
21.4
21.9
22.4
24.3
26.4
29.0
30.5
32.1
35.1
38.3

Passenger load factor (%)
81.6
80.7
80.4
79.7
81.4
82.4
83.8
83.7
84.0
84.7
85.1

Number of aircraft (at year end)

160
169
180
194
203
215
227

Notes/sources
[67]
[67]
[67]
[67]
[67]
[68][69]
[70][71]
[70][72]
[70][73]
[68][70]
[70]

text: Headquarters[edit]

text: JetBlue's headquarters are in the Brewster Building in Long Island City, New York.[46][47]

text: JetBlue previously had its headquarters at 80–02 Kew Gardens Road,[74] and then in the Forest Hills Tower, both in Forest Hills, Queens, New York City,[75][74] 6 miles (9.7 km) from the current office in Long Island City.[76] In 2001 the airline had announced that it wanted to take 74,000 square feet (6,900 m2) of space in the Forest Hills Tower, and by December 2002 announced that it planned to increase its leased space.

text: In 2009, JetBlue announced that it was looking for a new headquarters location, and was considering moving either within the New York City metropolitan area or to the Orlando, Florida area.[77] In April 2009, Helen Marshall, the president of the Borough of Queens, said that the City of New York was trying to keep JetBlue in the city;[78] in January 2010, the CEO of JetBlue, Dave Barger, and Governor of Florida Charlie Crist met in Tallahassee, Florida to discuss a possible move to Orlando.[79] A decision was expected by March 2010,[80] although a move would not happen until 2012, when its lease in the Forest Hills Tower expired.[81]

text: On March 22, 2010, JetBlue announced it would remain in the New York City area, in Long Island City,[82] because of the airline's historical links to the city, the cost of staff relocations, the airline's desire to retain access to financial markets, and because Aer Lingus and Lufthansa, JetBlue's marketing partners, fly into JFK Airport.[83] JetBlue planned to combine its Forest Hills and Darien, Connecticut offices, together about 1,000 employees, into about 200,000 square feet (19,000 m2) in the Brewster Building by mid-2012.[84]

text: Crew bases[edit]

text: JetBlue operates five bases for its pilots and cabin crew members:[85]

text:
Boston Logan International Airport
Fort Lauderdale International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport
Long Beach Airport
Orlando International Airport

text: Marketing strategy[edit]

text: JetBlue’s first major advertising campaign incorporated phrases like "Unbelievable" and "We like you, too". Full-page newspaper advertisements boasted low fares, new aircraft, leather seats, spacious legroom, and a customer-service-oriented staff committed to "bringing humanity back to air travel".[86] With a goal of raising the bar for in-flight experience, JetBlue became the first airline to offer all passengers personalized in-flight entertainment. In April 2000, flat-screen monitors installed in every seatback allow customers live access to over 20 DirecTV channels at no additional cost.[87]

text: As JetBlue gained market share, they found a unique positioning where they competed with other low-cost carriers (e.g. Southwest, and Frontier), as well as major carriers (e.g. American, United, and Delta). Amenities such as their live in-flight television, free and unlimited snack offerings, comfortable legroom, and unique promotions fostered an image of impeccable customer service that rivaled the major airlines while competitive low fares made them a threat to low-cost no-frills carriers as well.[88]

text: During the company’s growth stage, advertising messages moved from the engaging and customer oriented to less personal slogans and campaigns. Frequent changes in its values statements resulted in mixed and frequently wasted marketing dollars spent. Slogans varied from “More” to “Happy Jetting” and many other failed attempts.[89]

text: A new marketing strategy has been partnerships with professional sports teams and venues. As the official airline of the New York Jets, JetBlue has specially painted the exterior of one of their Airbus A320s (N746JB) in the team's colors. Aircraft N605JB is based on the design of the Boston Red Sox road uniform and sports a grey fuselage with navy lettering. This aircraft was unveiled in February 2012, just in time for the opening of the Red Sox new spring training facility in Fort Myers, Florida named JetBlue Park at Fenway South. Additionally, JetBlue and MasterCard have pledged to refund select flight purchases made online at JetBlue.com using a MasterCard.[90] JetBlue has also partnered with various other sports teams and sporting venues in cities they serve.

text: JetBlue also utilizes various forms of advertising media. They use print, online, and television ads as well as advertisements on popular social media sites including Hulu and YouTube. JetBlue emphasizes a secondary slogan, "If you wouldn't take it on the ground, don't take it in the air" poking fun at competitors with hidden fees, little, or no amenities and what JetBlue considers an unacceptable level of customer service.[91]

text: According to Martin St. George, senior vice president of marketing and commercial strategy at JetBlue, the new "You Above All" campaign was created to get JetBlue back to their "DNA" and speak to the "core of who we are as a brand". This motto is meant to support their efforts to always put the customer first and "bring humanity back to air travel".[89]

text: In February 2007, a Valentine's Day storm triggered an "organizational meltdown" leading to an extremely high level of cancellations and controversies. For example, some passengers were held on board their plane awaiting clearance for take off for nearly 11 hours before they returned to their gate and the flight was cancelled.[92]

text: Various consumer rights organizations and activists called for the creation of a government mandated “Bill of Rights” to protect air travelers from future experiences similar to the one previously described. On February 20, 2007, JetBlue released an apologetic response to the events that had taken place less than a week before with the creation of their Customer Bill of Rights, which offers financial reciprocation if a customer's flight is delayed or cancelled.[93]

text: Destinations[edit]

text: As of May 2018, JetBlue Airways flies to 102 destinations in North, Central, and South America; including destinations in Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Saint Maarten, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States.[94]

text: On May 6, 2015, JetBlue was one of the first airlines to be granted a license to commence charter flights to Cuba, with flights departing from New York City.[95] The weekly service began on July 3, 2015, with 150-seat Airbus A320s.[96][97]

text: In early 2018 it was reported that when JetBlue starts operating the Airbus A321neo (in the LR variants) they will begin flights to Europe from the Northeast United States. The official announcement is expected sometime in 2018. It is unknown if the planes will be using Jetblue Mint for these routes.

text: Airline partnerships[edit]

text: In 2008, JetBlue partnered with Irish flagship carrier Aer Lingus to allow passengers to switch between airlines on a single ticket for flights with connections in New York–JFK or Boston Logan. Unlike traditional codeshare agreements, the companies cannot sell seats on each other's flights, so customers initiate the purchase on one airline's website and then are transferred to the other site to complete the transaction.[98][99]

text: After making a codeshare agreement with Lufthansa that went into effect in 2010, JetBlue transitioned to the Sabre reservation system used by Lufthansa,[100] enabling the airlines to sell tickets on each other's flights, transfer luggage and passengers between the two carriers, and combine frequent flyer programs,.[101] By making use of JetBlue's North America routes as a feeder network, the agreement put Lufthansa in a position to operate quasi-hubs in New York–JFK and Boston Logan.

text: Also in 2010, JetBlue entered into interline booking agreements with South African Airways[102] and American Airlines[103] to facilitate luggage transfers between airlines for passengers with connecting flights on a different carrier. The agreement with American included JetBlue's 18 destinations not served by American and American's 12 international flights out of New York–JFK and Boston Logan. In addition, American gave JetBlue 8 round trips slots out of Washington National in D.C. and 2 out of Westchester, New York. In return, JetBlue gave American 6 round trips out of New York–JFK. The agreement with American Airlines has since ended according to JetBlue's website.[104]

text: In 2011, JetBlue made interline agreements with Virgin Atlantic and Jet Airways, both of which have since been terminated.[105][106] Since 2012, JetBlue has had an interlining agreement with Air China. It also established an interline agreement with Porter Airlines connecting from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to US destinations through Boston and Newark.[107]

text: Codeshare agreements[edit]

text: JetBlue has entered into a number of codeshare agreements with other airlines, meaning airlines agree to share certain flights, which both airlines market and publish on their own flight schedules under their respective airline designators and flight numbers. JetBlue codeshares with the following airlines:[108]

text:
Lufthansa
South African Airways
Azul_Brazilian_Airlines[109]
JetSuiteX [110]
El_Al[111]
Emirates (airline) [112]

text: Fleet[edit]

text: As of January 2018 the JetBlue Airways fleet consists of the following aircraft:[113][114]

text:
JetBlue Airways Fleet

Aircraft
In Service
Orders
Passengers
Notes

M
Y+
Y
Total

Airbus A320-200
130
—
—
42
108
150

Airbus A320neo
—
25

TBA

Deliveries start 2020 through 2022.[115]

Airbus A321-200
53
13
—
41
159
200

16
102
159
Mint Configuration

Airbus A321neo
—
60[116]

TBA

Deliveries begin in 2019.[115]
Option to substitute orders from A321neo to A321LR.

Embraer E190
60
24
—
16
84
100
Launch customer.[117] Fleet under review.
Scheduled for delivery from 2020 to 2022.[115]

Total
243
122

text: Services[edit]

text: Cabin Experience[edit]

text: Core[edit]

text: JetBlue offers Core (Main Cabin) seating across its fleet. In the Core cabin, Customers enjoy leather seats, the most legroom among U.S domestic carriers, free gate to gate wi-fi, free in-flight entertainment with DIRECTV and Sirius XM Radio as well as unlimited complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic drinks. Customers can purchase or upgrade to an EvenMore® Space seat with more legroom than a Core seat in a better location in the cabin.

text: Mint[edit]

text: Mint is JetBlue's premium class service and is available coast to coast and on select Caribbean routes on configured Airbus A321s. It includes fully lie-flat seats, some of which have sliding panels for more privacy. The table below shows the routes on which the service is available.

text:
Focus City
Destinations [118]

New York

Aruba
Barbados
Grenada
Saint Lucia
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
Palm Springs
San Diego
San Francisco
Seattle
St. Maarten

Fort Lauderdale (Miami)

Los Angeles
San Francisco

Boston

Aruba
Barbados
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
San Diego
San Francisco
Seattle
St. Maarten

text: In-flight Entertainment[edit]

text: JetBlue's in-flight options consist of gate-to-gate Fly-Fi service, offering over one hundred channels of DIRECTV, Sirius XM Radio, and movies, and on Airbus A321 craft a 15″ interactive video screen not available on the rest of the fleet. JetBlue's partnership with Amazon lets customers watch Amazon Prime videos by connecting to Wi-Fi and downloading the Amazon Video app on their mobile phone or tablet. You can also use the Fly-Fi (Wi-Fi) for almost anything, at speeds of 12–15 megabits per second.

text: Frequent-flyer program[edit]

text: JetBlue's frequent-flyer program is called TrueBlue. Under the original TrueBlue program, flights were worth two, four, or six points based on distance of the flights, and double points were awarded for flights booked online.[119]

text: In September 2009, JetBlue made changes to its TrueBlue program.[120] In the new program, members receive three points for every dollar spent toward a flight, excluding taxes and fees; members earn an additional three points for every dollar spent on a flight if they book online on the JetBlue.com website. Additional points are awarded if the member uses the Barclay's issued JetBlue Mastercard credit card to purchase the flight. The price of flights in points depend on the fare of the flight in U.S. dollars. The new program launched on November 9, 2009.[121][122]

text: In June 2013, JetBlue announced that TrueBlue points will never expire for any reason. The current policy states that if members book a flight online, they can earn double with 6 points per dollar. Flights bought elsewhere result in 3 points per dollar spent.[123][124]

text: Subsidiaries and investments[edit]

text: JetBlue Technology Ventures[edit]

text: JetBlue Technology Ventures (JTV or Jetblue Tech Ventures for short) [125] is a wholly owned subsidiary of JetBlue that was founded in November 2015.[126] It's meant to be the venture capital investment arm of JetBlue that invests in startups in the travel and hospitality space. They've invested in things like hybrid planes,[127] machine learning algorithms,[128] and ground transportation.[129] As of April 2017, JetBlue Technology Ventures has invested in five startups and has yet to disclose how much money has been invested or how much equity they have been given. Although they have shared that Investments, will range in size from $250,000 to $1 million.[130]

text: JetSuiteX[edit]

text: On October 25, 2016 JetSuiteX announced that JetBlue had made a minority equity investment in JetSuiteX. Part of the agreement also gave JetBlue a seat on JetSuite's board of directors. Reasons for the investment was outlined by CEO Robin Hayes "Our investment in JetSuite makes sense as we continue to execute on our west coast plan and invest in innovative ideas that reflect the disruptive spirit of JetBlue."[131] In JetBlue's 1st quarter 2018 investor call JetBlue's CFO Steven Priest Confirmed they currently hold about 10% [132] of JetSuiteX.

text: TWA Flight Center Hotel[edit]

text: The TWA Hotel is the TWA Flight Center structure currently being rebuilt as 505-room hotel, preserving the Eero Saarinen headhouse while replacing the structures on either side of the headhouse. Situated in front of JetBlue's JFK terminal, JetBlue has stated that it estimates the ownership of the hotel would be between 5–10% of the final total investment.[126] The hotel will be an effective replacement for the Ramada Plaza JFK Hotel on the north end of the airport grounds in Building 144, which closed in 2009.

text: LiveTV[edit]

text: LiveTV was bought by JetBlue in 2002 and became a wholly owned subsidiary until it was sold to Thales for nearly $400 million in June 2014.[133]

text: Incidents and accidents[edit]

text:
September 21, 2005: Flight 292 en route from Burbank, California, to New York City performed an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport (pictured on the right) following a failure of the front landing gear during retraction when it turned 90 degrees. The plane landed after holding for about three hours to burn fuel and lighten the aircraft. The aircraft came to a stop without incident on runway 25L, the second-longest runway at LAX. The only apparent damage to the plane upon landing was the destruction of the front wheels, which were ground down to almost semicircles, and the tires; the front landing strut held. The passengers were unable to see themselves landing despite the DirecTV service in each seat, as they were instructed to brace.[134]
March 27, 2012: The incident on Flight 191 involved the captain being locked out of the cockpit and being subdued by passengers following a panic attack and/or mental illness.[135][136][137]